We closed Bagby Beer Company completely on Monday, March 16th, until further notice. Like everyone we had been looking for answers, for direction, for some guidance or inspiration for what we should do. We have 50 employees. They have lives, kids, kids on the way, homes, cars, school to pay for, and so many other obligations. In almost every case, we are their only source of income. This decision was heart breaking for us, because we knew what it would mean – not just for our business, but for each and every one of them.
We had considered, and in fact were in the midst of forming plans, enacting an alternate service model, involving delivery and takeout. And then we were making selections about who, among us, would be here working, interacting with the public, exposed. Who would we put at risk? We knew that if we scheduled staff, they would be here. They would show up, and do their jobs, and do whatever they could, to keep the business and their income flowing. They would sacrifice their health. They would sacrifice the health of their families. They would do this if we asked them to. This felt wrong. And so it was at this point we decided to make the decision for them, to protect them and to do our part to protect the community. We wanted to take a stand, to stop in any way our contribution to the spread of this nasty thing. We were not mandated to close, but we decided anyway to do what we felt was the right thing.
As a business and as people these are not straight forward decisions. We have watched many of our friends and neighbors, near and far, choose to continue to operate. To struggle to eke out any semblance of a business, offering to go food and beer, wine, cocktails (!). To beg and plead the community to support them, to tip well, to think of the employees and their families. And all the while, they are risking their health, the health of their employees, the health of the community. And in doing so, in the absence of any offer of financial relief or assistance, they are unintentionally prolonging the impact of this, because no matter what, the risk of spread is not zero. We know it is nowhere near zero. The terrifying part is that there is no way to know who has been exposed until days or weeks after contact in some cases – what if staying open, even in a limited capacity with the prescribed “social distancing” isn’t just one more thing that allows this virus to continue to spread? Providing opportunities for people to be out, picking up food and beverages from restaurants, has to be part of the problem. It just does.
But as a culture we have been willing to accept this, because these folks NEED to stay open. Hear me now: it is not their fault. This is the unfathomably impossible decision facing all of us as business owners and as a community. We should never be asked to make this decision: save your business or save lives. Period. This entire conundrum is completely and entirely at the feet of our insurance companies, and since they so rarely do the right thing, it will invariably fall on our government. What if small businesses could close safely and without fear? What if owners could feel secure in knowing help is on the way? What if their people could go home and stay safe? Is there any doubt this would help slow or stop exposure, and therefore the spread, of this virus?
But – disgustingly – this has not happened. Not even close. Insurance companies are busy denying our claims of the Business Interruption coverage we pay for, citing a little known exemption for bacteria and viruses. It is not acceptable, and the lawsuits are already starting. We are calling on our State and Federal government to step in. In the absence of this insurance, we are desperate for funding. Refund the Payroll Tax we have already paid. Waive all Payroll Tax for the few employees we are able to keep paying. Offer immediate Payroll Tax credits for the health insurance we are struggling to continue to pay, so that once we open again – IF we are able to open again, there will be some lasting relief. Closing down a thriving business is costly, painful, unnatural. Staying open and putting our people and the community at risk is dangerous and immoral.
Governor, Senators, Reps, Leaders: Please do something. We are begging you to truly support small businesses for the long term so they can do the right thing and close in the short term, without fear of lasting damage to their legacy. So we are all able to reopen at some point, and we can all resume our many contributions to our culture and the economy.
You must do something now. Actual human lives and the lives of our businesses depend on it.